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Specification Error Detector

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About This MicroSim

A reviewer reads every clause of a specification with the selection checklist beside it and asks two questions: is the requirement stated so it can be proven, and does any clause contradict another clause or a source? This sim gives you a ten-clause draft written for the chapter's dryer exhaust fan (20,000 ACFM at 12.0 in. wg, 500°F gas at sea level, moderately sticky, abrasive, combustible wood dust, spring isolators on a mezzanine, cold start at 70°F).

For each clause, the drop-down offers Acceptable or Defective with one of seven reasons:

Letter Reason
(a) duty has no air condition
(b) arrangement unsuited to the temperature
(c) spark-resistance type not allowed at this temperature
(d) motor not sized for cold start
(e) sound data in the wrong form
(f) isolated fan without flex connectors
(g) arrangement cannot sit directly on isolators

Seven clauses are defective and three are acceptable; each defective clause has exactly one right reason. A clause is judged correctly when the acceptable/defective mark matches and, for a defective clause, the reason letter matches too. Marks can be changed freely until you press Submit review; the sim asks for every clause to be marked first. The first submission is the recorded evidence: the score reads "n of 10 clauses judged correctly", and mastery is 9 of 10.

After submission every clause turns green with a solid border and "✓ Correct" or red with a dashed border and "✗ Incorrect: you marked … ; it is …", followed by the reason the answer is right. Show corrected specification rewrites the seven defective clauses (for example, clause 3 becomes "Provide AMCA Type C spark-resistant construction."). Try again clears the marks and keeps the clause order; later submissions are labeled "Practice (not scored)" and the first-submission score stays recorded.

When the clauses do not all fit (a narrow screen, or after submission), they are split into pages; More clauses and Previous clauses move between them.

Sources: clauses 2, 9 and 10 from FanPedia pp. 110, 171, 187 and 166; clauses 3, 6, 7 and 8 from Twin City Fan's Model RTF guide specification (Section 23 34 16); clauses 1 and 5 and the application card from the chapter's illustrative worked example.

How to Use

  1. Read the application card.
  2. For each clause, open the drop-down and choose Acceptable or the Defective reason that names what is wrong. Check pairs of clauses against the card: temperature against the arrangement and the spark-resistance type, the cold start against the motor, isolators against the duct connection.
  3. Press Submit review. Read each clause's result and the reason.
  4. Press Show corrected specification to see the rewritten clauses, and Show my review to go back. Press Try again to practice with the marks cleared.

Keyboard: Tab moves through the ten drop-downs and then the buttons; the arrow keys change a focused drop-down (Alt+Down opens it); Enter or Space presses a focused button.

Data label: "Illustrative worked example · Sources: FanPedia pp. 110, 166, 171, 187; TCF Model RTF guide spec 23 34 16", at the bottom left of the drawing.

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Lesson Plan

Learning Objective

The learner will critique a ten-clause draft fan specification by flagging each clause as acceptable or defective and choosing the reason for each defect, with at least 9 of 10 clauses judged correctly (Bloom: Evaluate, verb: critique).

Audience

Adult professional development: new application engineers, sales staff, representatives and facilities staff.

Duration

10-15 minutes

Prerequisites

  • Specification review and the fan selection checklist (Chapter 27)
  • Airstream conditions and the density correction (Chapters 2 and 27)
  • Arrangement selection, including Arrangements 4, 9 and 9F (Chapters 11 and 27)
  • Spark-resistant construction types (Chapter 20)
  • Cold start motor sizing, octave band sound data and flex connectors (Chapter 27)

Activities

  1. Review (6-8 min): Mark all ten clauses before submitting. For each defective clause, write in the margin which other clause or which fact on the card it conflicts with.
  2. Debrief (3 min): Read every result, then open the corrected specification and compare each rewrite with the guide-specification wording in the chapter.
  3. Practice (2-4 min): Press Try again and redo any clause you missed.

Common Misconceptions Addressed

  • A clause that sounds technical is complete: clause 1 states a duty with no air condition.
  • Spark-resistant Types A and B work at any temperature: clause 3 (Type B at 500°F).
  • The motor is sized for the hot operating point: clause 5 (60 HP against a 96 BHP cold start).
  • An overall dBA value is the sound data a specification asks for: clause 6.

Assessment

  • The first submission is the evidence: "n of 10 clauses judged correctly", with mastery at 9 of
  • Later submissions are practice and do not change the recorded score.
  • Follow-up: write the corrected clause 9 so that it also says who furnishes the flex connectors.

References

  1. MasterFormat - Wikipedia article on the CSI numbering system that organizes construction specifications, including Division 23.
  2. Specification (technical standard)
  3. Wikipedia article on what a technical specification must state so compliance can be checked.
  4. Twin City Fan product specifications - CSI-format guide specifications, including the Model RTF section 23 34 16 used for clauses 3, 6, 7 and 8.
  5. FanPedia: The Fan & Blower Encyclopedia - Twin City Fan's reference for arrangements, high temperature construction, isolation and flex connectors.